Show-case.



2 5 or standards I), that support the rail 0.

UNITED STATES fiatented time 9, I963,

PATENT OFFICE.

SHOW-OAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 730,294, dated June 9,1903. Application filed March 5,1900. Serial No. 7,287. (No model.)-

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK POLLARD, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and 5 State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Show-Cases, ofwhich the following is a specification.

- My invention relates to improvements in show-cases, especially toall-glass showcases which are constructed by joining the plates of glassdirectly together at the front and ends, thereby dispensing with aframe,

except at the back and bottom of the case.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a perspective view of ashow-case embodying Fig. III is a cross-section of the upper part of. ashow-case provided with my improvements. Fig. IV represents a rearelevation of a portion of my improved top rail.

The frame A consists of a base ct and posts The plates of glass D aresecured directly to each other at the front and ends by means ofbrackets E and are fastened to the base in any suitable and well-knownmanner. A

0 strip of wood or metal (1 is rigidly secured to the top plate by meansof cement f and rivets or screws f and is provided with adownwardly-projecting tongue d, preferably integral therewith. The rail0. is permanently secured to the posts I) and'is provided with a grooveh, adapted to receive and seat the tongue formed on the strip that issecured to the top plate. Instead of a tongue and groove variousequivalent forms of construc- 40 tion may be used to interlock the stripand rail, if so desired.

The parts are assembled by building up the sides and ends of theshow-case, securing the top plate in position by inserting the tongue onthe strip into the groove formed in the rail, and then rigidly securingsame together by means of brackets and the screws 1'. A piece of moldingj may be placed on the inside of the case to hide the joint between thestrip and the rail, and thereby add to the finish and appearance of thecase.

In order that the case willstand wear without breaking, it is necessaryto have a rigid joint between the top plate'and rail, and the seat ofthe plate upon the rail or strip to which it is secured must beperfectly smooth, so there will be no stress or strain in the glass. Itthe seating for the plate is not perfectly smooth or if the plate issecured to the strip tighter at one place than'at another by means ofthe screws, a strain is produced in the glass that inevitably causes itto break sooner or later. On the other hand, if the glass is not rigidlysecured to theframe and any motion whatever is permitted the entire casesoon becomes loose, which finally causes its destruction. Heretoforewhen all-glass show-cases have been shipped with the glass detachedgreat difiiculty has been experienced in getting same properlyassembled. Their-sale therefore has either been restricted to the largercommunities where skilled workmen could be found or it has beennecessary to ship the cases in their finished condition, thereby addinggreatly to their cost.

By means of my improvements the case can be assembled by an unskilledworkman, as all danger of breaking the glass by uneven strains or byreason of looseness is avoided, thus permitting the case to be shippedwherever' desired with the glass plates detached.

I claim as my invention 1 l. In a show-case, the combination with theframe, of a strip permanently secured to one of the plates of theshow-case and engaging with the frame and means to form a rigid jointbetween said plateand frame, substantially as described.

2. In a show-case, the combination with a rail forming part of theframe, of a strip permanently secured to one of the plates of theshow-case and engaging with said frame and means to form a rigid jointbetween the plate and frame, substantially as described.

3. In a show-case having a glasstop plate, the combination with a railforming part of the case and provided with a groove in its upper face,of a strip permanently secured to the under side of the plate andprovided with a tongue engaging in the groove to form a rigid jointbetween said plate and rail, and means for permanently securing thetongue in said groove, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this application, in the presence of twoWitnesses, this 15th day of February, 1900.

FREDERICK POLLARD.

Witnesses:

O. I. HENDERSON, FREDERIC S. PORTER.

